This week—from San Diego to Bangkok—activists sent a clear message to tuna industry giant Thai Union Group: it is time for just and sustainable tuna.




Thai Union Group is the largest canned tuna company in the world—owning Chicken of the Sea in the US, Sealect in Thailand, John West in the UK and Mareblu in Italy, among others. And it is devastating our oceans: using fishing methods that harm marine life and deplete tuna populations. What's more, the company has been connected to abusive labour practices.
But in recent months, the movement to rein in the out-of-control tuna industry—starting with Thai Union Group—has grown in strength. More than 250,000 people have sent messages to Thai Union Group’s brands all around the world. And thousands of phone calls have tied up Thai Union Group brands’ phone lines.
Still, Thai Union Group hasn’t changed its policies. The message hasn’t sunk in. So this week, activists decided to arrive at Thai Union Group’s doorstep. From a giant tuna can outside its brand John West's headquarters in the UK, to a real life mermaid protest outside the Chicken of the Sea’s headquarters in the US—Thai Union Group couldn’t avoid seeing the demands of ocean lovers everywhere.
Check out how activists from the UK, Italy, the US and Thailand got their message across to Thai Union Group, and join in to tell Thai Union Group to change its ways!

In the UK...

thousands came by to see the two-story sculpture and statues of dead marine life erected outside of John West's headquarters in Liverpool. The tuna tin was ripped open to reveal a screen showing short films and messages from the people of Liverpool and celebrities. Hundreds more made calls to John West's 
 headquarters to demand an end to destructive fishing practices.


 

In Italy...

sharks were on parade in front of Mareblu's headquarters in Milan. Only 0,2% of this Thai Union Group brand's tuna is sourced from sustainable practices, while the company promised 100% sustainably-caught tuna by 2016. Mareblu has continued to use destructive fishing methods that also kill sharks and turtles.












In the US...

a special guest joined the call for the Thai Union brand Chicken of the Sea to take immediate steps to address labour abuse and destructive fishing methods in its supply chain. Hannah Fraser, acclaimed mermaid performance artist and ocean activist, joined Greenpeace at Chicken of the Sea’s headquarters to demand that the company stop greenwashing its record on ocean sustainability.

 


In Thailand...

activists placed a large mock-up of a Sealect tuna can in front of the Thai Union Group's Bangkok headquarters—complete with life-sized stuffed tuna. The protest challenged the company to change its fishing and labour practices.






























 
Activists all over the world spoke to Thai Union Group in one voice this week, but we need to keep pushing. Only together can we make powerful change for the largest ecosystem on the planet.
Add your voice to join the movement today.
Maïa Booker is a Multimedia Editor for the Americas at Greenpeace.